ALBANY >> U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer attended the official rollout of 40 miles of the CDTA Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network Monday, where new BusPlus plans were announced.

BusPlus, CDTA’s version of bus rapid transit service, was introduced to upstate New York on Route 5 in April 2011, connecting Albany, Colonie, Niskayuna and Schenectady. The award-winning project has resulted in 20 percent ridership gains and prompted CDTA to pursue BRT routes on two of the region’s busiest transit corridors: Washington-Western Avenues and on Routes 4 and 32 along the Hudson River.

“Thanks to Senator Schumer and our network of government, transportation, community and business partners, we were able to introduce the first bus rapid transit line in upstate New York,” said CDTA chairman David Stackrow. “Its success has been felt at many different levels. In addition to providing greater accessibility for our community, it has made a tremendous impact in the area of economic development, and we are excited about the possibilities of what a BRT network can do for the region.”

Schumer also launched his effort to secure funds from the federal Department of Transportation in order to open one of the new Bus Rapid Transit lines.

“The bus rapid transit line expansion plans unveiled by CDTA are absolutely transformative for the Capital Region, as BusPlus will reduce traffic congestion, spur new economic growth, and save time for commuters,” said Schumer.

BusPlus has increased ridership on Route 5 to more than 4 million boardings and helped the region take notice of the economic benefits and innovative nature of CDTA’s robust transit system.

Schumer was instrumental in CDTA being awarded the Section 5309 Alternatives Analysis grant in the amount of $500,000 ($400,000 federal) to advance planning for the Washington Avenue-Western Avenue BRT project, which was endorsed by the Capital District Transportation Committee (CDTC) in 2011.

CDTA is finalizing the Alternatives Analysis process of the Federal Transit Administration’s Small Starts program. Schumer’s support allowed CDTA to obtain more than $18 million in federal funds to implement the Route 5 BRT line.

The Capital District Transportation Authority will hold an open house on Nov. 12, 2013, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Milne Hall Room at the University at Albany – Downtown Campus at 135 Western Avenue, Albany, to seek public input on the proposed BRT line traveling the Washington-Western corridor.

The other proposed BRT line will cover the 15-mile corridor that connects Albany, Menands, Watervliet Troy, Cohoes and Waterford. The River Corridor has a large, growing employment base and connects to a host of CDTA services, including the other BusPlus lines. The proposed locations account for more than 2 million annual boardings, making it the third-busiest transit corridor in the Capital Region. BusPlus will reduce traffic congestion along Route 32 and stimulate economic development while reducing parking demand in the cities of Albany and Troy.